Afghan police subdue Taliban siege in Kabul

KABUL — The Taliban’s overnight siege of a guesthouse near the Spanish Embassy in the diplomatic quarter of Kabul ended Saturday as police killed the final attacker, officials said.

Seven people were killed, in addition to the three attackers, and at least seven others were wounded, Afghan officials said. Among the dead were four Afghan police officers, two foreign citizens and an Afghan electrician who worked at the guesthouse, said Fraidoon Obaidy, head of criminal investigation for the Kabul police.

The attack began when a huge blast from a car bomb, which was heard across the city, destroyed the gate of the guesthouse around 6 p.m. Friday. Three insurgents then entered the building, according to Abdul Basir Mujahed, a spokesman for Kabul police.

Noori ul-Haq, 46, a watchman at the guesthouse, said he was in the bathroom when he heard the explosion.

“Immediately, I rushed out from the building,” he said. “I ran away — if I had stayed here, obviously the Taliban would enter. I saw the debris and the hood of the car lying on the ground.”

The Crisis Response Unit, an elite police force, soon arrived to take charge of the operation, cutting off electricity in the area. Sporadic gunfire and occasional explosions were heard through the night.

Mujahed said the operation took a long time because police moved slowly to minimize civilian casualties. He said officers rescued at least 40 people, both Afghans and foreigners.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the insurgents, said on his Twitter account, “A guesthouse of invaders was targeted.”

The attack took place in the district of Shir Pur, which is home to many foreign embassies and the homes of high-ranking government officials.